How To Raise A Rooster

[Jakoda]

by nit picking, I mean if the younger birds (he is in the middle aged group and was already integrated into the flock when I integrated 4 younger birds),,he will give them a peck if they get to close to something, say, he's eating.. And yes,he , as well as some of my hens, like the SLW always have had strange eye look,,camera doesn't bother him, he likes to yank on the handle string so he was probably eyeballing that...Mine are all very tame, I've handled them alot since they were babies..I do have one the Lemon Cuckoo who sounds like your killing her when you pick her up,,I just hold her calmly, till she settles down and then she's ok..

 

[chynasparks]

My rooster, Bill (5 1/2 months) is getting harder to catch. He also runs and sounds like I'm killing him. I did catch him but it was traumatic. I walked around with him till he calmed down. It concerns me because this is how I got my little flock of 4 to the whoop run. It's moveable so I can put them out on different areas of the yard. I can't free range so I decided it was the next best thing. Now I'm concerned that this isn't going to be goid for my rooster. I haven't figured out any different way to get them from point a to point b and back. Hubby isntbreadu to spend more money yet on the chickens. I want them to be in the grass so I'm stuck at the moment. The girls sqwak and fuss but its not traumatic. Hhmmmmm I thought of something......maybe I can build a long ladder that would lead out the roost box access door into the whoop run. I can cover it so they can't go anywhere but in the run. Hmmmmmm maybe???

 

[newbie32]

My rooster, Bill (5 1/2 months) is getting harder to catch. He also runs and sounds like I'm killing him. I did catch him but it was traumatic. I walked around with him till he calmed down. It concerns me because this is how I got my little flock of 4 to the whoop run. It's moveable so I can put them out on different areas of the yard. I can't free range so I decided it was the next best thing. Now I'm concerned that this isn't going to be goid for my rooster. I haven't figured out any different way to get them from point a to point b and back. Hubby isntbreadu to spend more money yet on the chickens. I want them to be in the grass so I'm stuck at the moment. The girls sqwak and fuss but its not traumatic. Hhmmmmm I thought of something......maybe I can build a long ladder that would lead out the roost box access door into the whoop run. I can cover it so they can't go anywhere but in the run. Hmmmmmm maybe???

That actually sounds like a good idea! I am taking the advice of several others on here and not picking up my cockerel. I will just walk right through him and ignore him. Hopefully it works.

 

[newbie32]

by nit picking, I mean if the younger birds (he is in the middle aged group and was already integrated into the flock when I integrated 4 younger birds),,he will give them a peck if they get to close to something, say, he's eating.. And yes,he , as well as some of my hens, like the SLW always have had strange eye look,,camera doesn't bother him, he likes to yank on the handle string so he was probably eyeballing that...Mine are all very tame, I've handled them alot since they were babies..I do have one the Lemon Cuckoo who sounds like your killing her when you pick her up,,I just hold her calmly, till she settles down and then she's ok..

Ah ok. Well I think birds are just like that. At least mine are anyways-they are snobs. The look is funny. I have seen a few other pics like that. It looks like they are thinking something sarcastic LOL. I love chickens, they are so funny!!

 

[chynasparks]

Yes, the more I think about it the more I think I should do something like that. I hated that it was so traumatic for him. Meanwhile, I think I may just take the girls out, and leave him in the coop. I don't want to stress him out. Hopefully taking the hens out wont cause a problem. He hasn't been agressive toward me, don't want him to start. I didn't know any of this about roosters starting out. Anyone have an opinion as to wether taking the girls out and leaving him will cause a problem for him?

 

[newbie32]

IDK I thought you were going to do a bridge for him

 

[chynasparks]

Yes I am but it will take a little bit of time. Hubby wants to put in a pop hole instead. That will take time. So meantime I at least want to carry the girls to re whoop run. I am wondering if leaving him in the coop alone will stress him out. I've never raised a rooster, and Bill was a surprise so I'm learning as I go. I thought my setup would work since I just had four birds. Well, live and learn, Bill has changed things. But, it is what it is, he'll cope or he won't. Guess that's my answer.

 

[newbie32]

I was seriously considering letting my cockerel out to play while keeping the girls in the run. I will let you know how it goes if I do. If you do your idea let me know. That way we can get a heads up to the other. Maybe I will do it tomorrow. I am just a little afraid he will fly over the 6 ft fence-he is a Polish and can FLY!

 

[chynasparks]

Bill is a RIR. He is big and heavy. I know he can fly but not far. My yard isn't fenced and I live right behind our City Hall/PD. I'm so close I can hear them talking when they are outside. All the outside festivities are held there. Plus there is a family of hawks in the neighborhood. 2 were raised in our pine tree over the summer. They watched us build the coop from their nest. Plus the neighbors don't honor the leash law. That's why I thought taking them to the whoop coop would suffice. I'm putting the girls in this weekend and will watch and see how he handles it. I've been reading up in rooster behavior. He might be protective of the hens and want to protect them. IDK. Will watch and post about his behavior, if any. It's entirely possible I'm over thinking it all and he will just peck around on his own til the girls come home. I'll let ya know.

 

[newbie32]

I took my most docile pullet out today instead of my cockerel. The rest of the chickens went and watched her from the fence and they all looked really jealous. So since I felt bad for them I let them ALL out!!! The couldn't find their way back in so I had to put them all back in one at a time

.

It was not fun because 2 cried murder even though I am always careful with my chickens. Needless to say I think your rooster will be devastated if you leave him out of the fun that the girls are having. IDK. I have read recently that some people separate their roosters from the girls as soon as they are confirmed to be male. They only allow interaction during breeding time for a few days. I guess according to them-the older the rooster is when separated the harder it will be on him.

I wont do that. At the most I will make separate coops for the show birds so I can have 2 roosters